‘Nutcracker’ includes sensory-friendly Dec. 6 show
Katie Hershberger is cast as the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Holmes Center for the Arts’ upcoming production of “The Nutcracker.”
This year Holmes Center for the Arts’ “The Nutcracker,” presented by First-Knox National Bank, will be performed on Saturday, Dec. 7 and Sunday, Dec. 8, both at 2 p.m., at West Holmes High School. This is HCA’s fourth year of bringing Holmes County this holiday story performed by over 80 local dancers.
Kaleb Reilly, a professional guest dancer formerly of Verb Ballet in Cleveland, will be performing the role of the Cavalier alongside Katie Hershberger of Millersburg and Hazel Alexander of Killbuck as the Sugar Plum Fairies. The Nutcracker Prince will be performed by Brodi Chase of Millersburg, and Clara will be performed by Kylee Brumme of Killbuck and Chloe Mast of Millersburg.
In a new collaboration and an effort to provide more opportunities for area students, HCA is welcoming a group of Wayne Center for the Arts dancers to perform the “Snow” piece in “The Nutcracker” this year. Likewise HCA dancers recently appeared in the Wayne Center for the Arts’ performance of “Winter Sleigh Ride.”
In addition to its Holmes County show, HCA will take “The Nutcracker” on tour to the Ohio Star Theater in Sugarcreek on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 15 at 2 p.m., thanks to Keim Lumber Company, the presenting sponsor. Ethan Ralston of Canton will be the professional guest performer dancing the role of Cavalier for this show.
New this year, to make HCA performances more accessible to all, a sensory-friendly production of “The Nutcracker” is being added on Friday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. at West Holmes High School.
This show will be shorter in length and will seek to provide a welcoming environment for children and families and for guests with sensory, social and cognitive disabilities. The sensory-friendly show will be a shorter version (only one hour in length) with quieter music, a brighter theater and less flashing lights. Guests will be free to talk or move about during the show. The cost of this show is set at $8 a ticket.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.holmescenterforthearts.org/the-nutcracker. Tickets also are available by calling 330-473-2879 (West Holmes performance) or 855-344-7547 (Ohio Star Theater) and at the door.